Maude User wrote:
> Hello All --
>> SUMMARY:
> I changed a configuration file and now I can no longer boot from my hard drive (but I can still
> boot from the CD). I would like to boot from the CD and undo my change to the configuration
> file -- but when I boot from the CD it automatically launches the install program. Is there a way
> to boot from the boot CD and get a shell and make a change to a file on the hard drive? (I got
> an "emergency shell" after booting from the CD -- but I can't figure out how to access my hard
> drive filesystem from it.)
>> DETAILS:
> I was trying to set up a serial console using the instructions here:
>>http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/serialconsole-setup.html>> I typed the following at the prompt:
>> # echo 'console="comconsole"' >> /boot/loader.conf
>> then unplugged my regular keyboard and tried to reboot -- but the machine now freezes on
> bootup.
>> I now want to boot from a CD and remove the file /boot/loader.conf from the hard drive. Then I
> should be able to boot normally again from the hard drive.
>> I went into the BIOS and booted from the CD and this put me in the install program. I don't
> want to install everything again -- I just want to boot up from the CD and execute the following
> command at the prompt:
>> # rm /boot/loader.conf
>> After booting from the CD, I found a command in the install program to enter an "emergency
> shell" and accessed this shell by hitting ALT-F4 -- but if I do an "rm" command in this
> emergency shell, it doesn't apply to the filesystem on the hard drive -- it applies to the CD. I
> need to delete the file /boot/loader.conf while booting from the CD.
>> Is there any way to fix this without installing FreeBSD all over again?
>> Thanks.
>> Scott Alexander
>
The option you are looking for is "fixit" from the install disk menu.
This'll get you a command prompt. You will have to manually mount the
partion that boot is on then you can delete, rename, edit, etc the file
in question.
HTH,
Micah